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I 


MEMORIAL  SKETCHES 


OF 


Rev.  Robert  Hall  Morrison,  D.  D. 


BY 


REV.    A.    W.    MIULvKR,    D.    D. 


AND 


GEN.    O.    H.    HIIvIv. 


CHARLOTTE,    N.   C. 

Hirst  Printing  Company,  212  E.  Trade  Street 
i88q 


IN  MEMORIAM 


The  REV.  ROBERT  HALL  MORRISON,  D.D. 


Born  in  Rocky  River  Congregation,  Cabarrus  County,  North  Caro- 
lina. September  8,  1798. 

Died  in  Lincoln  County,  North   Carolina,   May  13,  1889,  in  the 
Ninety-First  year  of  his  age. 


The  Southern  Church  mingles  its  sympathtes  with  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Mecklenburgh,  in  the  death  of  its  oldest  Minister,  this 
venerated  man  of  God. 

Society  suffers  in  the  removal  of  one  of  its  strongest  sup- 
ports and  truest  ornaments.  The  Church,  bereft  of  one  of  its 
brightest  crowns,  mourns  over  an  aching  void;  a  void  that  can 
never  be  filled.  An  extraordinary  character  has  vacated  an  extra- 
ordinary sphere  of  usefulness  and  honor.  A  bright  star  whom 
we  have  seen  shining  at  Christ's  right  hand  here  below,  is  now 
shining  with  surpassing  splendor  with  Christ  above. 

Descended  from  a  sterling  Scotch- Irish  Presbyterian  ancestry, 
he  inherited  those  marked  and  noble  qualities  of  mind  and  heart, 
which,  hallowed  by  grace,  made  him  an  honour  to  the  age  and  a 
blessing  to  the  world.     Early  called  by  the  Saviour,  in  the  morn- 
ing of  life,  he  obeyed  the  voice  of  the  gracious  Shepherd,  and 
followed  him  faithfully  to  its  close.     Communion  with  God,  med- 
itation upon  the  glory  of  Christ,  the  study  of  the  Scriptures, — 
v^    which  he  read  through  four  times  each  year,  with  commentaries, 
<3    dwelling   upon   their   preciousness   and   power — the   perusal  of 
O 


devotional  works,  were  his  chief  delight.  Literary  tastes  were 
sanctified,  and  mind  and  heart  found  their  highest  satisfaction 
and  enjoyment  in  the  green  pastures  of  Divine  Truth  and  beside 
the  still  waters  of  Divine  consolation. 

The  grand  doctrines  of  grace,  embodied  in  the  Calvinistick 
system  of  faith,  entered  into  and  moulded  his  christian  experi- 
ence and  made  him  humble  and  prayerful,  cheerful  and  strong, 
decided  but  liberal,  active  and  zealous,  steadfast,  immovable, 
always  abounding  in  the  work  of  the  Lord,  knowing  that  his 
labor  was  not  in  vain  in  the  Lord.  In  his  latter  years  all  of  his 
income — alter  providing  for  physical  wants — was  devoted  to  the 
Gospel,  not  restricting  himself  to  his  own,  but  assisting  all 
denominations  of  Christians.  He  left  a  legacy  to  the  American 
Bible  Society,  having  made  all  his  children  life-members,  and 
was  himself  a  life-director.  His  works  do  follow  him  and  will 
continue  to  follow  him  forever  !  Christians  of  every  name  were 
received  into  his  confidence  and  love,  but  none  were  left  una- 
ware that  the  venerable  Patriarchal  and  Apostolick  Presbyterian 
Church,  "the  Mother  of  us  all,"  was  the  home  of  his  heart  and 
his  chief  joy. 

Dr.  Morrison  was  graduated  at  the  University  of  North  Caro- 
lina, in  1818;  dividing  the  honours  of  his  class  with  President 
Polk,  also  of  Presbyterian  lineage,  and  from  that  Presbyterian 
section  of  the  State  which  gave  to  the  world  the  first  Declaration 
of  American  Independence,  May  20,  1775.  Dr.  Morrison  was 
ordained  by  Concord  Presbytery  in  1820,  his  first  charge  being 
Providence  church  in  Mecklenburg  county.  He  was  soon  called, 
thence,  to  Fayetteyille.  During  his  pastorate  there,  he  was,  on 
the  27th  of  April,  1824,  at  Vesuvius  Furnace,  Lincoln  county, 
N.  C,  united  in  marriage  with  a  lady  of  a  renowned  family,  Miss 
Mary  Graham,  sister  of  Gov.  William  A.  Graham,  and  daughter 
of  Gen.  Joseph  Graham,  of  illustrious  Revolutionary  fame, — 
a  devout  Christian,  and  for  the  last  10  or  12  years  of  his  life, 
Ruling  Elder  in  Unity  Church,  Lincoln  County. 

Dr.  Morrison  remained  in  Fayetteville  from  1822  to  1827, 
then  accepted  a  call  to  the  venerable  Sugar  Creek  Church,  three 
miles  from  Charlotte;  in  which  historick  town,  the  birthplace 
of  American  Independence,  a  Presbyterian  church  was  organized 
by  him,  their  membership  having  been,  previously,  in  the  mother 
church,  Sugar  Creek,  To  these  churches  he  ministered  most 
acceptably.     His  scholarly  attainments,  his   chaste  and  elegant 


diction,  his  dignified  mien,  his  impressive  delivery,  his  heart  on 
fire  with  the  love  of  Christ  and  the  love  of  souls,  captivated  his 
hearers  and  made  his  ministry  a  ministry  of  power.  His  was  no 
non-committal,  politick,  trimming  disposition,  courting  or  valu- 
ing popular  favour,  winking  at,  if  not  approving  of  fashionable 
folly  and  iniquity.  He  fearlessly  denounced  worldly  conformity 
in  the  Church.  Christ's  name  was  o?i  his  forehead,  seen  and 
read  by  all.  He  followed  the  Lamb  whithersoever  he  went,  bear- 
ing his  cross,  following  Him  through  evil  as  well  as  good  report, 
regardless  of  the  buzz  of  dissent,  or  the  clamor  of  opposition. 
His  was  no  half  way  offering  of  himself,  but  full  and  entire,  upon 
the  altar  of  God,  and  with  an  ardor  that  never  cooled,  and  a  zeal 
that  never  wavered,  he  continued  a  faithtul,  uncompromising 
witness  to  the  truth,  whether  men  would  hear,  or  whether  they 
would  forbear,  even  to  the  end.  David's  description  of  a  citizen 
of  Zion  was  applicable  to  him:  "In  whose  eyes  a  vile  person  is 
contemned,  but  he  honoureth  them  that  fear  the  Lord."  "Do 
not  I  hate  them,  O  Lord,  that  hate  Thee?  and  am  not  I  grieved 
with  those  that  rise  up  against  Thee  ?  I  hate  them  with  perfect 
hatred:     I  count  them  mine  enemies." 

Deeply  impressed  by  the  fact  that  very  few  candidates  for  the 
Ministry  came  from  the  State  University  and  other  secular  insti- 
tutions, and  realizing  the  necessity  of  a  Presbyterian  college 
as  a  nursery  for  the  Church  and  its  Ministers,  Dr.  Morrison 
brought  before  Concord  presbytery,  on  the  12th  of  March,  1835, 
at  Prospect  Church,  Rowan  County,  a  resolution  for  the  estab- 
lishment within  its  bounds,  of  a  Presbyterian  College,  where  Pres- 
byterian doctrines  should  be  faithfully  taught  and  expounded. 
The  resolution  was  adopted  and  Drs.  Morrison  and  Sparrow  were 
appointed  Financial  Agents.  They  succeeded  in  raising  funds 
sufficient  to  start  the  College  on  the  first  of  March,  1837.  The 
three  Presbyteries  in  charge  of  it,  Concord,  Morganton  and 
Bethel,  elected  Dr.  Morrison  the  first  President  of  Davidson  Col- 
lege. The  $30,000  thus  raised  was  supplemented  in  1855  by  a 
princely  donation  from  Mr.  Maxwell  Chambers,  of  Salisbury,  N. 
C.  Dr.  Morrison  appeared  before  the  Legislature,  and,  with 
difficulty,  procured  a  charter,  with  a  limit  of  $200,000,  which 
was  not  the  whole  of  Mr.  Chambers's  donation. 

Davidson  College,  thus  brought  into  being,  has  risen  to  emi- 
nence among  the  institutions  of  America.  Its  high  standard 
commands  the  respect  of  the  whole  country,  North  and  South. 


whilst  the  moral  influences  which  surround  and  govern  it,  are 
equalled  by  few,  surpassed  by  none.  A  high-toned  Faculty  and 
high-toned  students  are  regarded  with  admiration  throughout 
the  land.  The  Bible  forms  a  part  of  the  College  curriculum; 
and  the  God  of  the  Bible  has  set  His  sacred  Imprimatur  upon 
this  consecrated  Institution.  The  divine  spirit,  the  Fountain  of 
Truth,  energizes,  with  signal  force  "the  lively  oracles"  here  dis- 
pensed. His  vital  breath  renders  fruitful  and  fragrant  this  cher- 
ished Garden  of  the  Lord.  During  the  52  years  of  its  existence, 
it  has  given  to  the  Church  200  Ministers  of  the  Gospel  !  Who 
is  able  to  compute  the  sum  total  of  blessing  accruing  to  the 
world  from  this  one  source  alone  !  Who  is  able  to  measure  its 
influence  for  good  through  all  coming  time  !  And  who  is  able 
to  estimate  the  indebtedness  of  Society,  the  State,  and  the 
Church,  to  its  noble  Founder  !  Davidson  College  is  his  monu- 
ment! A  monument  more  lasting,  and  grander  far,  than  stone 
or  brass!  A  monument  perennial,  enduring  through  all  ages, — 
all  ages  of  Time  and  the  endless  ages  of  Eternity!  Generations 
yet  unborn  will  rise  up  and  bless  the  honoured  name  of  Dr. 
Robert  Hall  Morrison  ! 

Failing  health  led  Dr.  Morrison  to  resign  this  most  important 
trust,  the  Presidency  of  the  College,  and  he  retired  to  his  farm  in 
Lincoln  county.  His  delightful  home,  the  home  of  culture  and 
refinement,  of  joy  and  happiness,  was  proverbial  for  an  overflow- 
ing hospitality,  which  was  dispensed  from  a  full  heart  with  a  free 
hand. 

His  labours  in  the  Gospel-Ministry  knew  no  intermission,  but 
were  continued  at  Unity,  Castanea,  and  Machpelah  churches. 
During  the  long  Ministerial  term  of  65  years,  it  mattered  not 
what  the  weather  was,  he  was  never  known  to  fail  to  meet  an 
appointment.  In  recounting  his  mer  %ies,  he  stated  the  remark- 
able fact,  that,  though  not  strong,  physically,  he  was  never  con- 
fined to  bed  three  consecutive  days  in  his  long  life,  until  about 
ten  days  before  the  end  came.  He  was  constantly  expressing  his 
gratude  for  his  eyesight  being  spared,  enabling  him  to  read  con- 
tinually, until  two  weeks  before  his  death.  When  debarred  this 
privillege  by  much  suffering,  he  declined  being  read  to,  saying: 
"Fortunately  my  mind  is  stored  with  very  precious  promises, 
and  I  find  many  of  the  hymns  very  sweet  pravers." 

When  the  war  broke  out,  Dr.  Morrison,  though,  on  prin- 
ciple a  strong  Union  man,  cast  in  his  lot  with  his  people,  and 


espoused  the  cause  of  the  Confederacy  with  all  his  heart  and 
soul.  Three  gallant  sons,  old  enough  for  the  service,  and  five 
sons-in-law,  were  officers  in  the  Confederate  army.  Notably 
among  the  latter,  was  the  p  ;erless  Gen.  (Stonewall)  Jackson,  the 
splendour  of  whose  military  renown  was  even  surpassed  by  the 
lustre  of  his  piety,  and  the  crowning  character  in  the  constel- 
lation of  excellencies  that  illumined  his  name  and  invested  it 
with  a  halo  of  glory,  was  that  of  the  fearless,  devoted  Man  of 
God.  His  piety  was  the  basis  of  his  greatness,  the  true  secret  of 
his  military  success.  He  was  the  Joshua  of  modern  history.  An 
assemblage  of  similar  qualities  rendered  both  illustrious  and 
immortal.  Both  were  raised  up  by  Providence  to  illustrate  the 
elevating  power  of  religion.  In  both,  the  sentiment  of  duty 
was  paramount  to  every  other.  Both  were  characterized  by 
supreme  devotion  to  God.  And  both,  God  "set  on  high," 
because  they  "knew,"  and  honored  "His  Name":  "On  high," 
on  a  conspicuous  eminence  before  men,  the  objects  of  a  world's 
veneration  and  love;  and,  now,  again,  "On  high,"  among  Prin- 
cipalities and  Powers,  the  noblest  Chieftains  in  the  Kingdom  of 
Glory  ! 

The  youngest  son  of  Dr.  Morrison.  Alfred,  the  Benjamin  of 
the  family,  a  gifted  youth,  on  whom  the  mantle  of  his  honoured 
Father  seemed  likely  to  fall,  and  rest,  being  called  of  God  into 
the  Ministry  of  Jesus  Christ,  proclaimed  the  glorious  Gospel 
with  a  lervour,  and  a  power,  and  a  success,  that  seemed  but  an 
earnest  of  still  greater  blessings  to  the  Church  from  a  long  life  of 
devotion  to  his  holy  calling.  Alas,  the  vanity  of  human  hopes 
and  expectations!  The  youthful  soldier  was  soon,  how  soon! 
remanded  from  the  field  of  battle,  and  called  to  wear  his  crown! 
And  he  who  pens  this  tribute,  in  sadness  and  sorrow  performed 
the  funeral  rites  and  committed  his  body  to  the  tomb. 

We,  with  our  contracted  vision,  are  unable  to  comprehend, 
and  greatly  wonder  at,  the  mysterious  Providence  that  cut  short 
a  career  so  full  of  promise,  and  are  greatly  saddened  by  it.  But 
let  us  remember,  that  that  career  is  not  ended.  It  was  not  the 
meteor's  flash,  illuminating  for  a  moment  its  pathway  in  the 
heavens,  and  then  expiring  in  darkness,  leaving  not  a  trace  of  its 
former  light  and  splendour.  No!  he  set,  "as  sets  the  Morning 
Star,  which  goes  not  down  beneath  the  darkened  West,  nor 
hides  obscured  behind  the  tempests  of  the  sky,  but  melts  away 
into  the  light  of  heaven!  "     And  now  he  knows,  and  will  forever 


know,  even  as  he  is  known.  No  dim  or  hazy  atmosphere 
obscures  the  firmament  of  Glory.  He  admires  and  adores  the 
deep,  deep  Providence  which  stumbles  us.  Like  the  pillar  of 
cloud  and  fire,  though  it  be  dark  on  our  side,  yet  on  his  side  it  is 
full  of  light.  There  is  no  night  there.  He  has  entered  that 
Temple  which  the  Glory  of  God  doth  lighten,  and  the  Lamb  is 
the  light  thereof !  He  has  joined  the  company  before  the  Throne. 
And  the  blest  occupation  of  Earth  is  still  the  blest  occupation  of 
Heaven, — preaching  the  glorious  Gospel  of  the  Son  of  God! 
Father  and  Son,  now  forever  associated,  together  making  known 
''the  unsearchable  riches  of  Christ''  to  the  grandest  assembly  of 
the  Universe,  to  Angels  and  Archangels,  to  Cherubim  and  Sera- 
phim, who  learn  ^from  the  Church  the  manifold  wisdom  of 
God," — proclaiming  to  the  admiring,  adoring  Principalities  of 
Heaven,  the  fathomless  wonders  of  Redeeming  Love,  the  unut- 
terably glorious  triumphs  of  Amazing  Grace! 

"  'Worthy  the  Lamb  that  died,'  they  cry. 
'To  be  exalted  thus' ! 
'Worthy  the  Lamb,'  our  lips  reply, 
'For  he  was  slain  for  us !  " 

The  burden  of  this,  and  other  afflictions, — having  been,  pre- 
viously, bereft  of  a  beloved  wife  and  devoted  children, — pressed 
heavily  upon  Dr.  Morrison.  It  pleased  his  Heavenly  Father  to 
perfect  him,  even  as  Christ,  the  Captain  of  our  salvation,  was 
made  perfect,  through  much  suffering.  But  throughout  the 
long-protracted  discipline  of  trial,  he  murnured  not,  but  meekly 
drank  the  cup  that  was  given  him  to  drink ,  in  the  spirit  of  Him 
who  said:  "Thy  will,  not  mine,  be  done."  And  under  the  cul- 
ture of  sanctified  affliction,  his  Christian  character  visibly  mel- 
lowed and  ripened  fully  into  fitness  for  Heaven.  Though  con- 
fined to  his  home  by  the  infirmities  of  age,  he  was  always  work- 
ing for  the  Master,  in  distributing  Bibles,  good  books  and  papers, 
and  writing  to  many  on  the  importance  of  preparation  for 
Heaven.  His  conversation  was  more  of  heaven  than  earth  He 
wrote  to  each  of  his  absent  children  almost  weekly,  and  the  close 
of  every  letter  was  almost  a  sermon.  His  last  letter  to  a  beloved 
daughter  ends  thus:  "I  have  been  deeply  impressed  by  the 
number  of  sudden  deaths  we  have  had.  God  seems  to  remind 
us  often  of  the  frail  tenure  by  which  we  hold  to  the  things  of 
time  and  the  privileges  of  the  Gospel.  In  such  an  hour  as  we 
think  not  the  messenger  comes!    The  main  thing  is  to  have  our 


lamps  burning,  prepared  for  the  coming-  of  the  Bridegroom. 
The  more  we  lay  up  treasures  on  high,  the  less,  I  presume,  we 
will  fear  the  loss  of  things  below.  Among  the  most  solemn 
impressions,  is  the  fact,  that  all  privileges  enjoyed  here,  will  soon 
be  forever  gone,  and  we  have  no  power  to  recall  them!  Let  us 
strive  for  that  Kingdom  which  knows  no  sorrow,  no  changes,  no 
death."  He  delighted  in  the  society  of  Ministers,  and  loved  to 
encourage  his  young  brethren  to  persevere  in  their  glorious 
work  for  the  Master.  To  a  young  Minister  he  said,  recently, 
with  great  animation:  "O,  my  dear  young  brother,  if  I  had  ten 
thousand  lives  to  live,  I  would  give  them  all  to  the  Gospel!" 
The  graces  of  the  Holy  Spirit  so  abounded  in  his  life  as  to  ren- 
der his  old  age  very  peaceful  and  beautiful,  through  much  bodily 
suffering.  The  habit  of  secret  prayer  became  so  unceasing,  his 
family  often  feared  to  enter  his  room,  he  was  so  constantly  on  his 
knees.  He  would  admonish  all  not  to  faint  in  prayer,  and  with 
great  humility  would  ask  all  to  pray  for  him.  When  alone  he 
prayed  much  aloud,  and  the  burden  of  his  prayer  was,  that  all 
his  descendants  might  be  saved,  children  and  grandchildren  and 
great  grandchildren  gathered  all,  an  unbroken  family,  into  the 
Heavenly  Kingdom. 

In  broken,  utterances  under  great  bodily  suffering,  he  gave 
his 

DYING   TESTIMONY: 

''While  I  can  I  wish  to  bear  my  dying  testimony  to  the  power 
and  the  blessedness  of  the  Gospel,  and  to  the  preciousness  of 
the  dear  Saviour.  In  our  hours  of  ease,  precious;  in  hours  of 
trial  and  distress,  a  thousand  times  more  precious.  I  cannot 
express  in  words  freely,  what  I  mean.  O  the  sweet  wonders  of 
the  Cross  ! ' '  Marked  tokens  of  the  Divine  favour  were  accorded 
to  the  dying  saint,  as  cordials  to  sustain  his  fainting  spirit.  And 
amid  the  gentle  ministries  of  filial  love,  and  the  kind  offices  of 
filial  devotion,  untiring,  unfaltering,  that  ceased  not,  day  nor 
night, — "  ministering  angels," — relieving  the  tedium  of  the  sick 
chamber,  soothing  the  couch  of  suffering,  and  mitigating,  as  far 
as  possible,  the  pains  of  dissolution,  he  sweetly  fell  asleep. 

He  has  left  to  his  descendants  the  rich  legacy  of  an  honoured 
name,  a  holy  life,  an  elevated  christian  character,  and  many  fer- 
vent prayers  which  have  been,  and  are  yet  to  be,  answered  in 
blessings  on  their  heads, — a  legacy  infinitely  more  precious  than 


8 

all  the  diadems  and  treasures  of  earth.     May  they  all,  to  the 
latest  generation,  secure,  by  faith,  the  priceless  inheritance  ! 

He  has  gone  to  see  the  KING  in  all  His  beauty,  to  gaze 
upon  that  Sacred  Brow  that  for  us  was  crowned  with  thorns,  and 
to  lean  his  head  with  adoring  confidence  and  unutterable  joy 
upon  his  Saviour's  loving  bosom. 

"  Soldier  of  Christ  1  well  done  ! 
Praise  be  thy  blest  employ, 
And  while  eternal  ages  run, 
Rest  in  thy  Saviour's  joy  !  '' 

"  Who,  who  would  live  alway,  away  from  his  God, 
Away  from  yon  Heaven,  that  blissful  abode, 
Where  the  rivers  of  pleasure  flow  o'er  the  bright  plains, 
And  the  noontide  of  Glory  eternally  reigns ! 

Where  the  saints  of  all  ages  in  harmony  meet, 
Their  Saviour  and  brethren  transported  to  greet ; 
While  the  Anthems  of  Rapture  unceasingly  roll. 
And  the  smile  of  the  Lord  is  the  feast  of  the  soul !  " 

A.  W.   Miller. 


Obituary  of  a  Venerable  and  Most  Useful  Minister 

of  the  Gospel. 


[From  the  St.  Louis  Presbyterian.] 

Rev.  R.  H.  Morrison,  D  D.,  was  born  in  Rocky  River  Con- 
gregation, Cabarrus  County,  N.  C,  on  the  8th  of  September, 
1798,  and  died  in  Lincoln  County,  N.  C  ,  on  the  13th  of  May, 
1889. 

He  belonged  to  that  long  line  of  godly  Presbyterians  of  the 
same  name,  who  have  given  to  the  Church  so  many  ministers  of 
the  gospel,  elders,  deacons,  elect  ladies,  and  mothers  in  Israel. 
The  centre  of  the  clan  (if  it  may  be  so  called)  was  and  is  in 
Rocky  River  Congregation.  In  whatever  part  of  the  United 
States  you  may  meet  a  Rocky  River  Morrison,  you  will  almost 
certainly  find  a  devout  and  an  intelligent  Presbyterian.  They 
are  all  distinguished  for  plain,  practical  sense. 

Dr.  Morrison  had  a  peculiar  affection  for  one  of  his  kinsmen, 
and  the  two  kept  up  a  constant  correspondence  for  over  forty 
years.  This  kinsman  was  Rev.  James  Morrison,  who  married 
and  settled  near  Brovvnsburg,  Rockbridge  county,  Virginia. 
Rev.  R.  L.  Dabney,  D.D.,  of  the  University  of  Texas,  and  Rev. 
B.  M.  Smith,  D.D.,  of  Union  Seminary,  Virginia,  married 
daughters  of  Mr.  James  Morrison.  Few  mentin  this  or  in  any 
other  age  have  been  so  blessed  in  work  for  the  Master  as  was 
Mr.  James  Morrison.  He  had  charge  of  the  large  congregation 
of  New  Providence  Church  in  Rockbridge  county  and  of  a  fine 
Academy  for  girls  at  his  own  house,  and  in  both  church  and 
Academy  he  won  many  over  to  the  service  of  the  Redeemer 
Besides,  he  had  the  rearing  of  his  brothers-in-law,  the  young 
Browns — all  of  whom  became  noble  and  exemplary  men,  and 
five  of  them  honored  and  useful  pastors  of  strong  congregations. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch,  Dr.  Morrison,  was  graduated  at 
the  University  of  North  Carolina  in  1818.  There  he  was  a  class- 
mate of,  and  divided  the  honors  with,  James  K.  Polk,  afterwards 


IO 

nth  President  of  the  United  States.  Both  Polk  and  Morrison 
were  of  Presbyterian  lineage  and  from  that  Presbyterian  section 
of  the  State  which  proclaimed  itself  independent  of  Great  Britain 
on  the  20th  of  May,  1775,  and  which  the  British  designated  as 
the  "Hornets'  Nest  of  the  Rebellion." 

Dr.  Morrison  was  ordained  by  Concord  Presbytery  in  1820,  and 
his  first  charge  was  Providence  Church  in  Mecklenburg  county, 
N.  C.  He  did  not  long  remain  in  that  congregation,  but  was 
called  to  Fayetteville,  N.  C.  While  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  in  that  place,  he  was  married  on  the  27th  of  April,  1824, 
at  Vesuvius  Furnance,  Lincoln  county,  N.  C,  to  Miss  Mary 
Graham,  daughter  of  Gen.  Joseph  Graham,  and  sister  of  Gov- 
ernor Wm.  A.  Graham,  Secretary  of  the  Navy  under  Mr.  Fill- 
more and  candidate  for  the  Vice-Presidency  on  the  same  ticket 
with  Gen.  Scott  ior  President. 

Gen.  Graham  was  a  Major  of  Cavalry  during  the  war  of  the 
Revolution  and  noted  as  a  daring  and  enterprising  Cavalry  leader. 
In  an  engagement  near  Charlotte,  N.  C  ,  he  was  left  for  dead 
on  the  field  with  six  sabre  and  three  bullet  wounds  in  his  body. 

In  1814  the  Major  of  the  Revolution  was  made  a  Major 
General,  and  sent  with  his  division  to  co-operate  with  Gen. 
Jackson  in  the  Creek  war. 

Descended  from  pious  ancestry,  Gen.  Graham  was  a  devout 
Christian  from  early  youth  till  his.  death  in  his  77th  year.  For 
the  last  ten  or  twelve  years  of  his  life  he  was  an  elder  in  Unity 
Church  in  Lincoln  County. 

Dr.  Morrison  remained  in  Fayetteville  from  1822  to  1827. 
Then  he  received  and  accepted  a  joint  call  from  the  Church  at 
Charlotte  and  the  Church  at  Sugar  Creek,  three  miles  from 
Charlotte.  His  mind  had  been  exercised  for  some  time  upon 
the  fact  that  the  State  University  and  other  secular  institutions 
were  doing  but  little  towards  furnishing  candidates  for  the  min- 
istry. He  believed  that  this  work  had  to  be  done  by  denomina- 
tional colleges.  Accordingly,  on  the  12th  of  March,  1835,  at 
Prospect  Church  in  Rowan  county,  where  Concord  Presbytery 
was  then  sitting,  he  brought  forward  a  resolution  for  the  estab- 
lishment, within  its  bounds,  of  a  Presbyterian  College  in  which 
the  distinctive  doctrines  of  our  Church  should  be  taught  and 
explained.  Strong,  pure  Presbyterianism  was  to  take  the  place 
of  the  diluted  Christianity  which  usually  prevails  in  public  insti- 
tutions, and  for  the  simple  reason  that  public  teachers  are  afraid 


II 

to  impart  any  distinctive  doctrine,  lest  it  give  offence  to  some  of 
the  pupils.  I  was  once  shown,  by  Dr.  Morrison,  the  resolution 
which  he  introduced  into  the  Concord  Presbytery.  It  was  in  his 
own  handwriting  and  was  indorsed  in  the  same  hand.  At  the 
same  time  he  gave  me  the  reasons  which  led  to  his  offering  the 
resolution,  and  which  he  presented  to  the  Presbytery.* 

The  vote  on  the  adoption  of  the  resolution  was,  I  think, 
unanimous.  Dr.  Morrison  and  Rev.  P.  J.  Sparrow  were 
appointed  Financial  Agents  of  the  College  and  succeeded  in  rais- 
ing funds  sufficient  to  start  the  College  on  the  ist  of  March, 
1837  The  three  Presbyteries  then  in  charge  of  Davidson, 
Concord,  Morganton  and  Bethel,  elected  Dr.  Morrison  the  first 
President. 

It  was  then  the  day  of  comparatively  small  things.  The 
$30,00  raised  by  Drs.  Morrison  and  Sparrow,  was  suplemented 
in  1855  by  a  donation  from  Mr.  Maxwell  Chambers,  of  Salisbury, 
from  which  the  College  received  $200,000 — not  all  that  he  gave 
— a  part  being  lost  to  the  College  through  the  limit  to  its  char- 
ter. This  charter  was  procured  by  Dr.  Morrison  in  1838,  when 
he  appeared  before  the  Legislature  and  with  difficulty  procured 
it  with  a  limit  of  $200,000.  There  was  then  a  strong  prejudice 
against  denominational  institutions. 

Had  Dr.  Morrison  accomplished  nothing  else  in  life  than 
found  Davidson  College,  he  wouM  have  left  behind  him  an 
enduring  monument  and  wrould  have  been  justly  considered  a 
benefactor  of  mankind.  He  was  not  disappointed  in  the  num- 
ber of  preachers  turned  out  by  Davidson  College.  In  the  first 
fifty  years  of  its  existence,  it  sent  forth  193  ministers  of  the 
Gospel — a  greater  number  than  the  University  of  North  Carolina 
in  an  hundred  years.  The  University  of  Georgia  in  eighty  years, 
has  given  but  137  ot  its  2,003  graduates  to  the  Church.  Out  of 
659  graduates  from  the  University  of  Alabama,  only  thirtv  have 
become  clergymen.  All  College  statistics  prove  that  the  Church 
of  Christ  must  look  to  its  denominatioal  Colleges,  for  its  pulpit 
supply. 

*Davidson  College  has  now  one  of  the  largest  and  most  expensive  buildings  at  the 
South.  It  has  a  fair  philosophical  and  chemical  appar  tus,  and  quite  a  number  of 
v  iluable  books  belonging  to  the  College  and  Societies.  There  are  seven  Professors 
and  one  Tutor  in  the  College  Faculty.  The  tone  is  h  gh  among  Faculty  and  students. 
The  Bible  is  a  part  of  the  College  curriculum.  There  is  no  hybrid,  spavined  Christi- 
anity t.iught  there.  Surely  the  dream  of  the  first  President  has  been  glorionsly 
fulfilled.  In  the  first  fifty  years  of  its  existence,  Davidson  sent  out  193  preachers. 
In  the  last  two  vears  it  has  sent  out  seven  more  :  200  in  all. 


12 

When  Dr.  Morrison  was  at  Davidson  College,  a  great  and 
ever-widening  field  of  usefulness  seemed  to  be  opening  up  before 
him.  He  was  only  about  forty  years  old.  His  Alma  Mater  had 
conferred  upon  him  the  degree  of  D.  D..  an  honor  then  seldom 
given.  His  talents  and  eloquenee  had  made  him  widely  known 
in  the  South.  His  commanding  person,  his  easy  flow  of  pure 
and  elegant  English,  his  earnest  and  impassioned  delivery,  his 
logical  gifts  and  attainments,  his  heart  all  aglow  with  love  for 
the  Savior  and  the  world  the  Savior  came  to  redeem — these 
thrilled  his  congregations  everywhere  and  made  him  the  popular 
preacher  of  the  State.  But  all  this  was  changed,  as  it  were  in  a 
moment.  The  loss  of  two  lovely  little  daughters  at  the  College 
with  only  a  few  days'  interval  between  their  deaths,  and  a  severe 
attack  of  bronchitis  crushed  his  energies  and  for  a  time  filled 
him  with  melancholy.  With  the  consent  of  the  Trustees,  he 
abandoned  his  post  of  duty  for  a  time  and  went  on  to  Philadel- 
phia and  put  himself  for  treatment  under  the  care  of  Dr. 
McClellan  (father  of  the  famous  Union  General.)  Finding  that 
his  health  had  not  improved,  he  resigned  in  1840  and  settled  on 
his  farm  in  Lincoln  county,  and  seldom  left  it,  even  for  a  few 
days  for  nearly  a  half  century.  He  preached  then  regularly  for 
more  than  thirty  years,  sometimes  at  Unity,  sometimes  at  Cas- 
tanea  and  sometimes  at  Machpelah  (the  burying  ground  of  the 
Grahams  and  Brevards).  These  churches  were  on  the  circum- 
ference of  a  circle  of  whicii  his  house  was  the  centre. 

Dr.  Morrison  was  an  old-time  Whig,  and  an  ardent  Union 
man.  Nevertheless,  he  cast  in  his  lot  with  his  people  with  all  his 
heart  and  soul.  His  three  sons  old  enough  to  be  in  the  war, 
acquitted  themselves  most  nobly.  Major  Win.  Morrison  was 
one  of  the  most  efficient  staff  officers  in  the  service.  Capt  J.  G. 
Morrison  was  Aid  to  Gen  Stonewall  Jac  son,  was  with  him 
when  he  was  wounded,  and  at  great  risk  succeeded  in  removing 
him  to  a  place  of  safety.  Capt.  Joe  was  wounded  three  or  four 
times  and  lost  a  foot  in  the  service.  Capt.  Robert  Morrison 
was  aid  to  Gen.  D  H.  Hill,  and  was  as  efficient  as  it  was  possi- 
ble for  mortal  man  to  be.  Tnree  of  Dr.  Morrison's  sons-in-law 
became  General  officers  in  the  Confederate  service.  T.  J. 
(Stonewall)  Jackson,  D.  H.  Hill  and  Rufus  Barringer  ;  a  fourth, 
Colonel  (now  Supreme  Court  Judge)  A.  C.  Avery,  was  Inspector 
General  of  Hardee's  old  corps  ;  a  fifth,  Colonel  John  E.  Brown, 
was  Colonel  of  the  Forty-second  N.    C.  Regiment.     All  these 


13 

were  officers  in  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Dr.  M.  had  impressed 
Presbyterianism  very  strongly  on  his  family.  It  is  a  curious  fact 
that  three  out  of  the  five  Trustees  of  the  General  Assembly  are 
his  sons-in-law. 

CHARACTERISTICS. 

Dr  Morrison  was  a  man  of  rare  dignity  of  manner.  His 
presence  and  his  look  were  always  sufficient  to  rebuke  unseemly 
levity  and  undue  familiarity.  The  order  in  his  congregation  was 
always  perfect,  more  grave  and  decorous  even  than  is  usual  in 
Presbyterian  churches,  always  noted  for  their  propriety.  He 
seemed  born  to  command,  and  would  have  made  a  great  mili- 
tary leader.  And  yet  of  all  men  this  writer  ever  knew,  he  had 
the  most  of  that  "flowing  courtesy,"  which  Clarendon  said  so 
pre-eminently  distinguished  John  Hampden  Before  the  war 
had  desolated  our  y,  his  elegant  home  was   the  seat  of  a 

refined  and  genial  ality.     His  was  never  so  happy  as  when 

entertaining  his  clen  il  brethren.  His  manner  towards  them 
was  not  merely  kind,  it  was  affectionate,  because  he  loved  the 
embassadors  of  his  Master.  To  well-accredited  strangers,  his 
welcome  was  so  cordial  and  winning  that  they  soon  felt  them- 
selves at  home.  But  U>  tuose  whose  private  life  was  known  to  be 
unseemly,  his  demeanor  was  cold  and  forbidding,  however  high 
might  be  their  social  standing  or  official  position.  Dr.  Morrison 
had  in  an  eminent  degree  one  of  David's  characteristics  of  a  good 
man:  "In  whose  eyes  a  \ile  person  is  contemned."  With  the 
Doctor  was  apparently  e\  er  present  the  question  which  Jehu,  the 
Prophet,  asked  King  Jehosaphat  :  "Shouldst  thou  help  the 
ungodly  and  love  them  that  hate  the  Lord  ?"  The  se  who  knew 
Dr.  M.  well,  can  testify  to  his  scorn  and  contempt  for  the  scoffer 
and  blasphemer.  Like  the  Psalmist,  he  could  say:  "Do  I 
not  hate  them  that  hate  Thee  ?  and  am  not  I  grieved  with  tho  e 
that  rise  up  against  Thee  ?  I  hate  them  with  perfect  hatred.  I 
count  them  mine  enemies."  An  attack  upon  the  God  he  revered 
and  the  Savior  he  loved,  was  an  attack  upon  him  and  was 
resented  as  such.  The  mildest  and  gentlest  men  can  feel 
strongly  and  express  themselves  strongly  in  such  circumstances. 
We  speak  of  the  meek  and  lowly  Jesus,  and  we  do  well  so  to 
speak,  but  the  wees  and  denunciations  uttered  by  Him  as 
recorded  in  Mat.  xxiii:  show  how  burning  his  anger  could  be 
when  aroused. 


14 

In  promiscuous  assemblages  Dr.  NWk*  was  retice.it  and  was 
considered  stern,  but  in  the  inner  circle  of  his  friends,  he  was  all 
geniality  and  was  loved  by  them  as  tenderly  as  he  loved  them. 
I  have  never  known  a  father  who  was  so  honored,  revered  and 
loved  by  his  children. 

DYING    EXPERIENCE. 

Dr.  Morrison  was  greatly  afflicted  for  the  last  six  months  of 
his  life.  His  suffering  was  otten  acute  and  continuous,  but  no 
one  ever  heard  a  word  of  complaint  from  him,  a  murmur  of  dis- 
content or  an  expression  of  impatience.  On  the  contrary,  his 
heart  seemed  to  be  overflowing  with  gratitude  to  God  for  his 
goodness  to  him.  He  would  often  say:  "Surely,  goodness  and 
mercy  have  followed  me  all  the  days  of  my  life" — this,  notwith- 
standing the  fact  that  he  had  had  many  sore  trials  and  bereave- 
ments, and  a  great  deal  of  bad  health.  With  reference  to  his 
bodily  pain  he  would  frequently  say:  ''Not  my  will,  but  thine  be 
done."  A  common  expression  with  him  was:  "  It  is  all  right, 
I  am  in  good  hands." 

His  son,  Capt.  Jos.  Morrison,  was  living  with  his  father,  and 
he  and  his  family  were  there  at  all  times  to  soothe  and  care  tor 
the  sufferer.  His  daughter,  Mrs.  Jackson,  was  with  him  con- 
tinuously for  the  last  three  months  of  his  life,  and  his  son,  Dr. 
Robt.  Morrison,  was  with  him  a  great  deal.  Some  weeks  before 
his  death,  he  called  these  two  sons  (the  survivors  of  four),  his 
daughter,  Mrs.  Jackson,  and  his  daughter-in-law,  Mrs,  Jos. 
Morrison,  and  said  to  them:  "  Dr.  John  H.  Rice  on  his  death- 
bed left  his  testimony  as  to  his  unalterable  conviction  of  the  love 
of  God  and  the  truth  of  the  Christian  religion.  I  have  always 
desired  to  do  the  same  thing.  It  is  one  thing,  my  children,  to 
feel  the  love  of  Christ  in  our  hours  of  ease.  But  it  is  inexpressibly 
dearer  to  feel  it  at  such  a  time  as  this."  Here  his  strength  failed 
him  and  he  could  say  no  more.  But  he  had  giv  en  the  testimony 
vihich  he  had  wished  for  so  many  years  that  he  might  have  the 
privilege  of  giving  on  his  death-bed  and  he  was  the  happier  for  it. 

A  grateful  disposition  was  an  important  element  in  Dr. 
Morrison's  character.  He  had  in  an  eminent  degree  the  "cheer- 
ful heart"  of  which  Addison  speal  s,  t'^at  "tastes  the  gifts  of  God 
with  joy."  Those  gifts  were  felt  by  both  poet  and  preacher  to 
be  unmerited  mercies  calling- for  lo^  e  and  gratitude  to  the 
"author  of  every  good  and  perfect  gift."     So  true  is  it  that  "the 


15 

meek  shall  inherit  the  earth."  He  is  doubly  blessed  in  every- 
thing; first,  in  the  gift  ot  God;  second,  in  the  cheerful  heart  that 
gratefully  recognizes  God's  loving  kindness  in  its  bestowal.  Dr. 
M.  did  not  regard  the  attentions  and  courtesies  even  of  his  own 
children  as  rights  that  be  might  justly  claim,  but  rather  as  favors 
to  be  thankfully  acknowlepged.  Some  of  his  family  were  prov- 
identially hindered  from  being  with  him  in  his  last  illness.  To 
each  of  these  he  sent  word  that  it  was  not  her  duty  to  try  to 
come  to  him  But  the  tender  ministrations  of  his  daughter  and 
daughter-in-law  (alluded  to  above)  aroused  in  him  the  liveliest 
emotions  of  gratitude.  He  spoke  of  them  as  his  "ministering 
angels,"  and  often  said:  "God  bless  you,"  He  talked  often  and 
lovingly  of  the  affection  and  kindness  always  shown  him  by  his 
children.  No  earthly  theme  had  such  a  charm  for  him  as  this. 
To  his  son  Robert,  upon  whom  he  leaned  as  a  physician  as  well 
as  a  son,  he  was  peculiarly  tender,  and  almost  his  last  conscious 
words  were:   "Kiss  me,  Robert." 

Gratitude  constitutes  no  small  ingredient  of  happiness.  The 
least  self-asserting  are  the  happiest.  The  wise  man  never  said  a 
wiser  thing  than  "with  the  lowly  is  wisdom." 

Every  one  must  have  noticed  in  the  lives  of  eminent  saints, 
how  as  they  approached  life's  end,  they  clung  more  closely  to 
the  cross  of  Christ,  how  they  more  and  more  felt  the  need  of 
Christ's  righteousness,  and  how  they  were  more  disposed  to 
pour  contempt  upon  their  own  good  deeds.  So  it  was  literally 
with  Dr.  Morrison.  He  had  less  and  less  confidence  in  the 
flesh,  and  as  heart  and  flesh  failed  him,  he  made  God  the 
strength  of  his  heart  and  his  portion  forever,  and  with  the  simple, 
trusting  faith  of  a  child,  he  put  himself  in  the  hands  of  the 
Divine  Savior.  He  frequently  repeated  verses  from  the  well- 
known  hymn: 

"Just  as  I  am,  without  one  plea 

But  that  Thy  blood  was  shed  for  me." 

Moses  was  the  meekest  of  men,  because  he  alone,  of  all  man- 
kind had  seen  God  in  his  awful  holiness.  Job  lost  all  his  self- 
righteousness,  "abhorred  himself  and  repented  in  dust  and 
ashes,"  when  his  eyes  had  seen  the  King  in  His  glory. 

In  these  days  of  fanaticism,  cant  and  conceit,  it  will  be  well 
to  remember  the  dying  testimony  of  the  venerable  saint,  a  sketch 
of  whom  I  have  been  trying  to  give.  He  had  served  God  hon- 
estly and  earnestly  for  more    than  three-fourths  of  a  century. 


i6 

but  he  counted  that  service  and  all  his  "righteousness  as  filthy 
rags,"  and  placed  all  his  hopes  of  pardon,  peace  and  eternal  life 
in  the  blood  of  the  Reedemer  shed  for  him.  This  text  was  very 
precious  to  him:  "Knowing  that  a  man  is  not  justified  by  the 
works  of  the  law,  but  by  the  faith  of  Jesus  Christ,  e\en  we  have 
believed  in  Jesus  Christ  that  we  might  be  justified  by  the  faith  of 
Christ  and  not  by  the  works  of  the  law;  for  by  the  works  of  the 
law  shall  no  flesh  be  justified."     Gal.  xi:  16. 


.  t 


